Oral history with Boden Sandstrom, 1945-

Title

Oral history with Boden Sandstrom, 1945-

Description

Oral history with Boden Sandstrom, know for recording, engineering and mixing live music, especially within the women’s music and political communities. Later also ethnomusicologist and professor at University of Maryland.

Date

01042016

Rights

This interview belongs to the Rainbow History Project. The RHP release form was used and all rights belong to RHP.

Coverage

1970s to present.
Boden Sandstrom, was born and grew up in Fairport, N.Y. (Born Barbara Carol Sandstrom.) While earning a Master’s Degree in Library Science at the University of Michigan (1967-68), she became more politically engaged due to the social and political upheaval of the day. She then moved to San Jose, Calif., where she met (and eventually married) folk/flamenco singer, educator and Brown Beret member Rogelio Reyes. She lived and worked in Boston from 1970-72, where she became further engaged in feminist consciousness and political activism. During this time, Sandstrom came out as a lesbian. Arriving in D.C. in 1972, she found new ways to be involved in feminist activism. Beginning about 1974, Sandstrom began what would become a major part of her career: recording, engineering and mixing live music, especially within the women’s music and political communities. Early sound engineer experiences included Sophie’s Parlor, the oldest women’s music show on radio and the 1st National Women’s Music Festival. Sandstrom co-founded with Casse Culver a woman-run sound co., Woman Sound (later City Sound Productions), in Washington, D.C. During her career as a sound engineer/technical producer Sandstrom worked for many major events and artists including the American Folklife Festival, NOW, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Cris Williamson’s Flying Color Tour, the 1978 ERA rally, Michigan Womyn’s Festival, Sisterfire, D.C. Gay Pride Days, RFK Stadium, Lily Tomlin, Hispanic American Cultural Festivals and the 1979, 1987 and 1993 LGTBQ March on Washington and March for Women’s Lives, 2004. After the sale of Woman Sound, Sandstrom enrolled in the ethnomusicology program at the University of Maryland. She earned her Ph.D. in 2002, and taught in the School of Music from 1996 until her retirement in 2013. Sandstrom was co-producer of the documentary, Radical Harmonies, which documents the women’s music movement from the 1970s through 1990s. Sandstrom also discusses her relationship and eventual marriage with well-known musician Casse Culver.

Citation

For more information on the Rainbow History Project and its work to preserve, describe, and make available the history of sexual minorities in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, please visit the Rainbow History Project website.